Research and Planning

This was produced by the examiner highlighting what I needed in order to make my blog excellent mainly focusing on research and planning and achieving the highest mark possible. From this I was then able to highlight what I thought was important which I could use into my blog. One example would be to provide variety into my researching which was said by the examiner.

This was an article written by Tony Levelle focusing on unscripted documentaries.this article was able to show what was needed in my documentary and tips which can then be used in my mini documentary as well as showing something of the problems that occur whilst making documentaries. One problem being that I am in school which means that I have to create a production schedule which fits around my teams timetable even having to sacrifice some precious time. Something said by Levelle focuses on editing: "When edited together, the interview and the unplanned paint-splashing episode graphically illustrated the school's approach to education" From this I was able to understand that footage at times may not seem important but later highlights more than we think which I linked to Sophie's interview. Another thing that struck out to me was when Fadiman was talking about capturing the story in unscripted moments: "It means, instead, finding a good idea; doing background research and putting together a supportive team; then, once you start shooting, opening yourself to the direction suggested by what you see and hear. this is how you allow your footage to tell you where to go, instead of following a predetermined script." From this I believed this could be done within my team which could make our documentary better. 

Research and planning

People involved in my Documentary and some Issues

These are the people that I want in my documentary and how I want them to be perceived 
 

Subjects who shouldn’t perform to the camera Rowers Public Mr Hughes Sir Michael? Mr Walker	Strategies In their environment Natural resources- Streets With Mr Hughes probably film him coming out into the balcony
Subjects that should perform to the camera Dick (Coach) Victor Aisha Kirubel Alex Anthony	Strategies Spectacle Maybe in a recording studio Rehearsing Rehearsing POV recording himself POV recording himself

How might these ETHICAL ISSUES affect you?

Are we being as fair and accurate as possible?

·       Should we be?
I think in our documentary we do need to make sure that it is fair and accurate because I think its right that my target audience to know everything to show that I have than trust from them
·       How will we be fair and accurate as possible?
I think that when we ask our questions to the interviews we make sure that they are true and we don't edit things that are important or contain value
·       Why do we need to be fair and accurate?
I think we need to be fair and accurate because then it helps to set what I want to achieve from my documentary which could then go on to make my target audience think about certain things 
·       Will this change the view of the documentary?
I think in some ways it will change the way people see things but its how they then acknowledge it to help them with the future that matters
·       Audience positioning

The possibility of faking

·       Archive footage
·       Is entertainment more important than the truth?
I believe that the truth is more important but can be revealed with some use of entertainment a good example would be in south park where they comedy with some home truths  
·       When will you need  to?
With certain topics we will need to be truthful for example when we are doing the interviews; the answers that come out need to be from them and not me telling them what to say.
·       Reconstruction?
Somethings may need to be reconstructed so that the vision that i seek maybe seen as well as from the rest of the group
·       Will it help the documentary?
I think that by being honest it will help our documentary making things accurate and things we can then back up if people have any issues
·       Will we need to?
It will only come as a last resort to fake anything which I feel might make the documentary better

Are there any issues with how close we’re getting to our subject?

·       Personal involvement
·       Should we let them have a say in the final edit?
I think in some ways yes because the interviewers had given their consent to being in the film and they can take that away from us if they don't agree with something
·       Objectivity vs. subjectivity
·       Change with representation
·       Prevalence

5 Modes of Documentary

Documentaries

There are many things that people agree and disagree with regarding documentaries which are:
Documentaries shape the truth
Documentaries represent someone's version of the truth
Documentaries capture the truth
Raw archive footage is more truthful than staged scenes
Documentaries are more truthful than fiction 
In my eyes i this is my order:

STRONGLY AGREE

Documentaries shape the truth

Documentaries represent someone's version of the truth

Raw archive footage is more truthful than staged scenes

Documentaries are more truthful than fiction

Documentaries capture the truth

The top being the ones i strongly agree doing doing to strongly disagreeing with.

STRONGLY DISAGREE 

I believe there are many ways that we are now able to capture footage in order to show realism (verisimilitude) and be able to highlight certain scenarios. In order for this to succeed we need to have the right equipment believed to be relevant to our documentary.

And the winner of the treatment goes to.....

Andrew Adedipe

What makes a good treatment?

Treatments

This is the first treatment which was produced by Andrew Adedipe which was given a 8/10 becasue it was really detailed and showed what we wanted to achieve from our documentary.

This is the second treatment which was done by me and was given 6and a half/10 because there were some good points but lacked a sense of direction.

The final treatment was done by Alex Lesurf which was give 5/10 because it felt like more needed to be said however he did have a introduction.

Analysis of the documentary: My kid could paint that

What technical and symbolic codes are used and for what reason?

Setting: the filming mainly took place in 2 areas the art studio and the house. By filming the art studio it is able to show Marla’s (artist) work that she has done to others as well as showing her ambition and her skill. Also by filming the house it also shows the idea that Marla is just like any other kid and likes the idea of painting as well as showing where the creativity started; her father also paints.

Icon: this documentary uses many of artistic story conventions as well as the conventions of Marla being a child prodigy: skill, struggle, exhibitions, and interviews. However through a range of codes it changes the art story into Marla’s life, family and people who are intrigued by her work and their reactions to her.

Icon: the titles in the credit scene are written with the use of a pain crush with different colours signifying what kind of documentary it is as well as reaching to its target audience. The music also used is very playful showing that a child is involved and is the main character. However there is a contrast in music when the family hear some bad news to create dramatic effect.

What documentary techniques does the director use and for what reason? / Identify documentary conventions.

This is an interactive documentary.

Interactive is done when the filmmaker engages with the documentary, encounters situations, engages with the audience and is inquisitive.

The filmmakers become quiet important people in this documentary because their view of Marla’s work begin to change and we see the reasons why; it then makes the audience think differently to how they see Marla who is just a 4 year old girl. Also because it’s interactive it means that the audience is able to see the ups and downs that occur in the documentary which then creates an emotional connection.

It could also be seen as performative because in some ways the filmmaker is a participant and they engage in revealing the truth to people about Marla’s work and are able to learn different opinions on Marla and the family.

Who was the target audience and what were the audience appeals?

The target audience was broader than just the artistic community- due to there being so many people involved; appealing also to families and child prodigies. This was directed to a wider audience to highlight that Marla is the victim and that everyone else other than her family change from her supporters to the villain therefore keeping everyone engaged in the documentary.

Discuss notions or realism and objectivity and subjectivity

Realism: the documentary prevails a sense of realism because everything seems to occur more at home rather than at the art studio. We see Marla playing with her brother and family showing a family environment and the father trying to push Marla to succeed which is wanted by any parent.

Objectivity vs subjectivity: the film makes seem to present Marla as an object as she is unable to express her emotions to certain things but through the use or mise-en-scene it changes the scenario from objectivity to subjectivity because, you are able to get that special connection and you feel the young girls paint from midway.  

My Street Films- VYNER STREET

http://mystreetfilms.com/#/films/watch/615

1. What question was the Director trying to answer with the film?

 How do people from the same area earn their way to survive life in London?

2. How did they tell their story visually?

Sogand Bahram showed this by showing the different cuts from people working in the garage to people walking past looking at them whilst they work to then showing where the people were going where they were admiring someones work and, showing the comparison of admiring something at is just there for entertainment apposed to something people need. 

3. How did sound and music contribute to the narrative?

The use of natural sound made it really realistic and was showing that this is something that occurs in our society where people take things for granted rather than realizing the work used into creating things. 

4. What does this documentary inspire you to do, and not do, with your documentary?

This inspires me to be really realistic with my topic; success and focus on what people have achieved and what people aspire to do. From this short film I was also able to learn that using elliptical editing would be wise where I can get information out to my target audience but make it straight to the point drawing my audience in rather than pushing them away.

'The film's aims was to capture the events of a street with two very different worlds that live inconspicuously side by side. Vyner street is best known for its art galleries. I wanted to enter this street and world through a different door, the door to the garage at the head of the street.'- Sogand Bahram